Car dumper scale apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided a railroad car dumping apparatus including an invertible cradle, a weighable platform assembly invertible therewith, weight-sensing means coacting between the cradle and the platform assembly in compression only, and stop means operable to support the platform assembly when the cradle is in its inverted position without a railroad car. This structure overcomes weight inaccuracies introduced by submitting the weight-sensing devices to both tensile and compressive forces and simplifies the structure.

United States Patent [21] Appl. No.

[72} Inventor Edward E. Cheek Cleveland Heights, Ohio 6,463 Jan. 28, 1970 Aug. 31, 1971 McDowell-Wellman Engineering Company Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] cAR BUMPER SCALE APPARATUS 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. 7

, 177/ 145 [51] Int. Cl .Q G0lg 19/52 [50] Field of Search 177/1-32,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,666,634 1/ 1954 Williams 177/254 2,896,935 7/1959 Osojnak et a]. 177/145 X 3,123,166 3/1964 Schellentrager 177/132 X 3,158,217 11/1964 Johnson 177/134 3,214,034 10/1965 Cheek 214/52 C 3,373,829 3/1968 Suman et a1. 177/132 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,577 I 5/1903 Great Britain 177/145 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistqnt ExaminerGeorge H. Miller, Jr.

AttameyMcNenny, Farrington, Peame and Gordon ABSTRACT: There is provided a railroad car dumping apparatus including an invertible cradle, a weighable platform assembly invertible therewith, weight-sensing means coacting between the cradle and the platform assembly in compression only, and stop means operable to support the platform assembly when the cradle is in its inverted position without a railroadcar. This structure overcomes weight inaccuracies introduced by submitting the weight-sensing devices to both tensile and compressive forces and simplifies the structure.

PATENTEU AUESI I97! 3502 32 SHEET 1 or 4 I J if INVENTOR EDWARD E. CHEEK PATEi'H'rTH M83] 19?:

SHEET 2 [IF 4 INQI L mm

ATT NEYS PATEHTED M331 ism sum 3 or 4 .INVENTOR EDWARD E. CHEEK JNVENTOR EDWARD E. CHEEK CAR DUMPER SCALE APPARATUS I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART This invention relates as indicated to a railroad car dumping apparatus characterized by an improved weight-sensing assembly.

In order to handlelarge quantities of bulk materials carried by railroad cars, and particularly unit train, rapid means for unloading such cars have been developed. Such means involve inverting one or more railroad cars bodily to discharge the contents into a suitable hopper for further handling. Determination of the weight of the bulk material so handled is desirable. To this end the art first developed weighing means associated with the car dumping apparatus which weighed the entire apparatus or a substantial portion of it. The relative proportion of the total weight represented by the bulk material was so small that accuracy of weighing became a major problem. Any inaccuracies were magnified, and actual operation of the device so distorted the reproducibility that better means for determining the weight of the bulk contents were required.

One solution to that problem has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,896,935. In a principal embodiment illustrated in this patent, there is provided a cradle, a railroad car carrier apparatus invertible therewith including a scale platform having rails thereon and weight-sensing apparatus coacting between the carrier and the scale platform. Because of the structure of such a device, the connection between the carrier and the platform includes the weight-sensing device and is fabricated to operate both in compression whereby the weight is sensed, as by load cells, and in tension when the apparatus is in its inverted, car content-discharging position, but without a railroad car on the rails.

It has now been found that the structure can be considerably simplified by providing a platform assembly which is invertible with the cradle, but which does 'not require the provision of a separate carrier of which the scale platform is a part, nor does it require means for joining the scale platform and the carrier through the weight-sensing apparatus whereby the latter must operate both in compression and in tension. The load cells or weight-sensing devicesremain more accurate when operated in compression only and are not submitted to tensile stress.

BRIEFSTATEMENT or THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present invention is in a railroad car dumping apparatus which comprises in combination a supporting cradle which is substantially invertible. The extent of invertibility ranges from the upright or zero rotation position to usually about 160 of rotation. The extent of rotation for inverting the railroad car to discharge the contents may be more or less than 160, and all such inversion as is encompassed by the term substantially invertible. Also included are means carried by the cradle and invertible therewith including a platform assembly having a pair of rails secured to the upper side thereof for supporting a railroad car to be dumped. A plurality of weight-sensing assemblies, each including a weight-sensing device, such as a load cell of known structure, and an abutment surface separate therefrom are interposed between the platform assembly and the supporting cradle, usually at the comers of the platform assembly, and adapted to be in abutting relation to each other when the cradle is at zero rotation and being under zero tensile stress when the cradle is in its inverted car dumping position without a car on the rails. In order to support the empty platform in the inverted position, there are provided stop means coacting between the cradle and the platform assembly for supporting the latter when the cradle is in the inverted position. Particularly suitable embodiments of the present invention also include means for stabiliz ing and locating the platform relative to the cradle, and to this end it is convenient to provide lateral stabilizing and locating means and longitudinal locating means as will be hereinafter more specifically described. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a rotary railroad car dumper apparatus showing two cradle units in tandem relation.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotary railroad car dumper apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the rotary railroad car dumper apparatus shown in FIGS. I and 2, said view being taken from the approach end and similar to the structure of the runoff end.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view on an enlarged scale of the platform assembly including car supporting rails shown in FIG. 3, and showing weight-sensing assemblies as well as platform assembly stabilizing and locating devices.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway fragmentary top view on a reduced scale of the platform assembly as it appears in the plane indicated by the line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a weight-sensing assembly as it appears in the broken plane indicated by the line 66 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side view on an enlarged scale of a linkage assembly for longitudinal location of the cradle as it appears in the plane indicated by the line 77 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of one embodiment of stop and Stop abutment apparatus for supporting the platform assembly in the inverted position without a railroad car thereon and for stabilizing and laterally locating the platform assembly in the zero rotation or weighing position.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of another embodiment of stop and stop abutment apparatus for supporting the platform assembly in the inverted position without a railroad car thereon and showing another structure for stabilizing and laterally locating the platform structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now more particularly to FIGS. I, 2, and 3, there is here shown a pair of rotary railroad car dumping cradles generally indicated at 10 and 12 in tandem or axially aligned relation. Cradle 10 is provided with a driven end ring 14 and end ring 16. In like but opposite manner, cradle 12 is provided with a driven end ring 18 and an end ring 20. To effect tandem operation of the cradles l0 and 12, clamps such as 22 and 24 are provided to tie end rings 16 and 20 together for mutual rotation. Conventional drives generally indicated at 26 and 28 operating in synchronism and through simple gears are provided to rotate cradles l0 and 12 from the upright position or zero rotation as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to the inverted position, normally about 160 from the point of zero rotation. In order to hold the car in the cradle during dumping as for example in cradle 10, there are conveniently provided clamping assemblies 30 and 32 which coact between the railroad car and the cradle in a known manner. In like manner clamping assemblies 34 and 36 are provided in cradle 12. In FIG. 3 clamps 36 and 360 are shown in the open position and, in dotted lines, in the clamping position. During both positive and negative rotation (i.e. to and from car dumping or inverted position), the clamps are operative to hold the car onto the rails, and the platform assembly in compression against the load-sensing means. There are also provided laterally movable clamps 38 and 40 for engaging the sides of railroad cars in the respective cradles l0 and 12. The direction of rotation of the cradle is shown in FIG. 3. The side clamps 38 and 40 (FIG. 2) give lateral support to the car during inversion. All clamps are in the released or open position during weighing.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the cradle contains a platform assembly 43 having affixed to the upper surface thereof rails 44 and 46 which are invertible with the cradle. Disposed between the platform assembly 43 and the cradle 12 are weight-sensing assemblies 107 and located adjacent the approach extremity of cradle 12 as shown in FIG. 3.

The foregoing structure is mounted for rotation on support roller assemblies such as support roller assemblies 52 and 54 (FIG. 3). The remaining end rings 14, 16, and 20 are also supported on roller assemblies, for example roller assemblies 56, 58 and 60, corresponding opposite roller assemblies not being shown.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, there is here shown on an enlarged scale and in fragmentary end view the platform assembly 43 and the load-sensing assemblies 107 and 105. Also shown are stop devices including the stops 62, 64, 66, and 68 constituting oppositely disposed pairs of inwardly and outwardly directed flange members, respectively, for stopping coaction with the stop plates 70 and 72, respectively.

When a car, or cars, is on rails 44 and 46, and the clamps,

e.g. clamps 34, 34a, 36, and 36a, are in clamping relation with the upper marginal edge of the railroad car (not shown), the platform assembly 43 and the car are securely clamped into the cradle 12, for example. A compressive force is applied to all the load-sensing assemblies, e.g. sensors 107 and 105 when the car is in the clamped condition. However, when no car is on rails 44 and 46, and it is desired to rotate the cradles and '12 for adjustment purposes, stops 62 and 64 coact with stop plate 70, and stops 66 and 68 coact with stop plate 72, to retain the platform assembly 43 securely in position within the cradle. Because of this structure, the weight-sensing devices, e.g. load-sensing assemblies 107 and 105, are never subjected to tensile forces, but only to compressive forces.

The platform assembly 43 is of generally boxlikc construction composed of a top plate 74 and a bottom plate 76 held in spaced relation by vertical spacers 78, 80, 82 and 84, for example. Longitudinally extending I-beams 86 and 88 are disposed to support rails 44 and 46 on the upper surface of the top plate 74. The stop plate 70 comprises the lower flange of the I-beam 86. The rail 44 is mounted on the upper flange 90.

As indicated above, the stops 62 and 64 are, respectively, laterally inwardly (with reference to the partial plane including the axis of rotation of the cradle 12) and laterally'outwardly extending flanges supported on brackets 92 and 94, respectively, which are in turn secured to the bottom plate 96 of the cradle 12. In like manner, stops 66 and 68 are, respectively, laterally outwardly extending and laterally inwardly extending members supported on the brackets 98 and 100 also in turn secured to the bottom plate 96 of the cradle 12. Access through the bottom plate 76 of the platform assembly 43 for the stop 64 and the bracket 94 is by means of an opening 102. In like manner, access for the stop 66 and the supporting bracket98 through the bottom plate 76 of the platform 43 is by means of an opening 104.

The platform assembly is also conveniently provided with apparatus for locating the platform assembly 43 in a predetermined relationship with respect to the weight-sensing devices, e.g. devices 47, 49, 105 and 107. In the embodiment shown, these devices are of two kinds, one of which is adapted to position the platform assembly 43 in a longitudinal manner, and the other of which is adapted for positioning the platform assembly 43 laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the cradleqThe longitudinal locating apparatus coacts between the platform assembly 43 and foundation wall 124. The foundation wall 124 is conveniently provided with a skid pad 126 securely mounted thereon. A toggle linkage assembly generally indicated at 128 is secured through pivot pins 130 and 132 to brackets 134 and 136, respectively, which are in turn carried by the platform assembly 43. The toggle linkage assembly 128 is operated by an extensible arm 138, usually hydraulically operated, secured at one end to a bracket 140 which is in turn mounted on the platform assembly 43, and at its opposite end to a linkage arm 142. A linkage arm 144 carries a beveled skid pad 146 adapted for sliding coaction with the fixed skid pad 126 secured to the foundation 124. The bifurcated linkage arm 144 is pivoted by means of floating pivot 148 to a linkage arm 142 at its inboard extremity,and is also pivotally secured by means of a floating pivot pin 150 to a laterally extending linkage arm 152 which is in turn secured by means of a pivot pin 132 to'bracket 136. A bumper plate 157 is carried by the linkage arm 144. Extension of the extensible arm assembly 138 causes the skid pad 146 to assume its retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. The extensible arm 138 in its retracted position forces the skid pad 146 As indicated above, the approach end of the platform assembly 42 is supported on a pair of spaced weight-sensing assemblies 106 and 108. The opposite end is supported also on a pair of weight-sensing assemblies 48 and 50. The platform as sembly 43 is likewise supported on the weight-sensing assemblies 47, 49, 105 and 107. Details of a mounting for the weight-sensing assembly 105 are shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 6.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the weight-sensing assembly 107 is desirably composed of two parts including an abutment 110 and a load detector 112, e.g. a load cell. In FIG. 6 the abutment 111 is shown. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the abutment is secured to the stop plate 70 (which is the lower flange of the l-beam 86 or 88 (FIG. 6) which is integral with the platform assembly 43. The load cell 112 is mounted as by bracket 114 and mounting blocks 116 and 118 on the cradle 10 or parts directly connected thereto. The abutment 110 (111, FIG. 6) is conveniently provided with a spherically configured depression 120 (121, FIG. 6) having the same geometric configuration as a corresponding spherically configured projection 122 (123, FIG. 6) carried by the load cell 112. The remaining weight-sensing assemblies of the preferred embodiment are similarly constructed. It should be understood, of course, that the abutment 110 instead of being secured to the platform assembly 43 may be inverted and secured to the bottom plate 960i the cradle 12, and the load cell 112 secured to the platform assembly 43 without altering the mode of operation of the present invention.

against the fixed skid pad 126, and in combination with bumper pads I54 and 156 (FIG. 2) serves to locate the platform assembly 43 in a predetermined longitudinal location. A

suitable bumper 158 coacting with the bumper plate 157' Reference may be had to FIG. 7 for a side view on an enlarged scale of the toggle linkage assembly 128.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there are also provided as a desirable feature in the devices of the present invention lateral stabilizing and locating apparatus. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, such apparatus includes a hydraulically actuated extensible arm 160 having fluid passages 162 and 164 adapted for connection to a suitable source of pressurized fluid for selectively causing operation of an extensible arm 166. The distal extremity of the arm 166 is fitted with a pad or block 168 adapted for abutting pressurized coaction with plate 170 carried by the I-beam 88. The opposite extremity of the hydraulic extensible arm 160 is mounted on a mounting plate 172 which is in turn secured to the cradle 12. Operation of the extensible arm 160 is effective to aid in positioning the platform 43 in its predetermined location.

During weighing, both the locating devices, i.e. the longitudinal locating apparatus previously described and the horizontal locating apparatus also described, are in their retracted or inoperative positions.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show alternate lateral locating means and stop means for holding the platform assembly 43 when the apparatus contains no railroad car and is in the inverted position as during assembly and adjustment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, lateral position is secured by means of a wheel 174 mounted on a pin 176 carried on a'bracket 178 which is in turn secured to mounting plates 180 and 182 to sustain both lateral and vertical loads. The mounting plates 180 and 182 are integral with'the cradle 12. The wheel 174 coacts by a camming action with a generally L-shaped abutment I84 containing a laterally extending stop arm 186 geometrically configured for stopping coaction with the wheel 174 when the cradle 12 is in its inverted position. Lateral positioning of the platform 43 is secured also by the thrust relationship between the L-shaped abutment 184 and the wheel 174. During the weighing operation, there is clearance between the stop arm 186 and the wheel 174 so that there is no vertical component of force transmitted to the weight-sensing assembly 190.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 9, there is here shown an alternate form of stabilizer and locating apparatus as well as stop means for retaining the platform 43 in the inverted position when no railroad car is in the cradle. In this embodiment, the lateral positioning and stabilizing means is independent of the stop means and includes a pair of brackets 192 and 194 secured respectively to'the platform assembly 43 and to a mounting plate 196 secured in turn to the cradle assembly 12. Coacting between brackets 192 and 194 and pivotally secured thereto by means of pivots 198 and 200 is a linkage arm 202.

The stop apparatus includes a stop 204 secured to a mounting plate 206 which is in turn secured as by welding to the cradle 12. A stop plate 208 is carried by the platform 43 for abutting coaction with the stop 204 in the manner aforesaid.

MODE OF OPERATION OF APPARATUS The mode of operation of the present apparatus is quite conventional. Loaded railroad cars are moved into cradles and 12. The cars may be fitted with rotary couplers thereby obviating the necessity for uncoupling the cars to permit dumping of the bulk contents. Alternatively, the two cars may be separately moved into the apparatus. When in predetermined position within the apparatus, and with the platform assembly 42 being properly located, and the locating means in retracted inoperative position, a reading is taken on the weight as sensed by the sensing devices 48, 50, 106, 108, 47, 49, 105, and 107. Thereafter, the clamps 30, 30a, 32, 32a, 34, 34a, 36, and 36a and the side supports 38 and 40 are moved into car retaining and supporting position. The drives 26 and 28 are then actuated, and the cradles l0 and 12 positively rotated from their initial position of zero rotation to the fully rotated, car dumping inverted position, approximately 160 of rotation. The contents fallthrough the cradles l0 and 12 into bulk receiving bins located below the apparatus (not shown). The cradles are then negatively rotated and returned to the position of zero rotation, the car clamps removed, and the side supporting clamps 38 arid 40 also removed. The platform assembly 42 is again located by means of the lateral and longitudinal locating means, and the longitudinal as well as the lateral v locating means (if the latter are retractable) retracted and the weight sensed by the weight-sensing apparatus again recorded. The difference between the first weighing and the second weighing is the weight of the bulk material. The empty car or cars are moved off the runoff end of the cradle 10 and loaded cars moved into the cradles 10 and 12 for repetition of the cycle. When removing cars from the dumper and when entering the loaded cars, the platform assembly 42 must be supported longitudinally and laterally.

What is claimed is:

1. A railroad car dumper comprising in combination:

a. a substantially invertible supporting cradle;

b. means carried by the cradle and invertible therewith including a platfonn assembly having a pair of rails secured to the upper side thereof for supporting a railroad car to be dumped;

. a plurality of weight-sensing assemblies, each including a weight-sensing device and an abutment surface separate therefrom interposed between said platform assembly and said supporting cradle and adapted to be in abutting relation to each other when the cradle is at zero rotation and being under zero tensile stress when the cradle is in its inverted car dumping position; and d. stop means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly for supporting the platform assembly when the cradle is in the inverted car dumping position without having a car thereon.

2. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the weight-sensing device is a load cell which is secured to the cradle and the abutment surface is carried by the platform assembly.

3. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 is provided with projecting spherical segment integral therewith, and the abutment surface is provided with a mating spherically shaped recess dimensioned such that the entire compressive stress sensed by the weight-sensing device is transmitted across the mating surfaces.

7. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stop means includes a stop member and a stop abutment member.

8. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop member is secured to the platform and the stop abutment member is secured to the cradle.

9. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop means includes a laterally outwardly extending flange member and the stop abutment member is a laterally inwardly extending abutment plate.

10. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 9 wherein the stop means includes laterally outwardly and inwardly extending flange surfaces, and the stop abutment member includes opposed inwardly and outwardly extending abutment plates, respectively.

11. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim I additionally characterized by lateral stabilizing and platform assembly locating means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly in a generally horizontal direction and incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.

12. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 which is additionally characterized by longitudinal platform assembly locating means.

13. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 12 wherein the longitudinal locating means includes hydraulically actuated means coacting in a generally horizontal direction between the platform assembly and means stationarily supported adjacent the car dumper, said hydraulically actuated means being incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.

14. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lateral stabilizing and locating means includes means for selectively engaging and disengaging said lateral stabilizing and locating means.

15. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 14 wherein the selective engaging and disengaging means includes an extensible member.

16. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 15 wherein the extensible member is hydraulically actuated. 

1. A railroad car dumper comprising in combination: a. a substantially invertible supporting cradle; b. means carried by the cradle and invertible therewith including a platform assembly having a pair of rails secured to the upper side thereof for supporting a railroad car to be dumped; c. a plurality of weight-sensing assemblies, each including a weight-sensing device and an abutment surface separate therefrom interposed between said platform assembly and said supporting cradle and adapted to be in abutting relation to each other when the cradle is at zero rotation and being under zero tensile stress when the cradle is in its inverted car dumping position; and d. stop means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly for supporting the platform assembly when the cradle is in the inverted car dumping position without having a car thereon.
 2. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the weight-sensing device is a load cell which is secured to the cradle and the abutment surface is carried by the platform assembly.
 3. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the weight-sensing device is a load cell.
 4. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 3 wherein the abutment surface and the confronting surface of the weight-sensing device together include complementary geometrically configured mating surfaces whereby the parts when under compressive stress are located in a predetermined position relative to each other.
 5. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 4 wherein the complementary geometrically configured mating surfaces are spherical surfaces.
 6. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 5 wherein the confronting surface of the weight-sensing device is provided with projecting spherical segment integral therewith, and the abutment surface is provided with a mating spherically shaped recess dimensioned such that the entire compressive stress sensed by the weight-sensing device is transmitted across the mating surfaces.
 7. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stop means includes a stop member and a stop abutment member.
 8. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop member is secured to the platform and the stop abutment member is secured to the cradle.
 9. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop means includes a laterally outwardly extending flange member and the stop abutment member is a laterally inwardly extending abutment plate.
 10. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 9 wherein the stop means includes laterally outwardly and inwardly extending flange surfaces, and the stop abutment member includes opposed inwardly and outwardly extending abutment plates, respectively.
 11. A railroad car dumPer in accordance with claim 1 additionally characterized by lateral stabilizing and platform assembly locating means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly in a generally horizontal direction and incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.
 12. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 which is additionally characterized by longitudinal platform assembly locating means.
 13. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 12 wherein the longitudinal locating means includes hydraulically actuated means coacting in a generally horizontal direction between the platform assembly and means stationarily supported adjacent the car dumper, said hydraulically actuated means being incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.
 14. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lateral stabilizing and locating means includes means for selectively engaging and disengaging said lateral stabilizing and locating means.
 15. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 14 wherein the selective engaging and disengaging means includes an extensible member.
 16. A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 15 wherein the extensible member is hydraulically actuated. 